From the creators of RHYTHM IS IT! and TRIP TO ASIA

Watch on VOD

From the creators of RHYTHM IS IT! and TRIP TO ASIA

Watch on VOD

VOD & Trailer

Dedicated to Juliano Mer-Khamis

Juliano Mer-Khamis was the impassioned director of the Freedom Theatre in Jenin. His secret love was the cinema, and he advocated and supported the rebuilding of Cinema Jenin from the very beginning. Two days before Marcus Vetter was to discuss a possible cooperation between Cinema Jenin and the Freedom Theatre Juliano was brutally shot to death. The death of Juliano Mer-Khamis is a great loss for everyone who lives and breathes freedom in theater and film.

Watch on VOD

Trilogy

Three films tell stories of freedom and peace

The three films “Heart of Jenin”, “Cinema Jenin” and “After the Silence” wonderfully tell the complex history of Palestine using the example of the city of Jenin. There are three films of hope, but also of despair. But above all, these stories show that it is worth dreaming.

Watch on VOD

Cinema Jenin

The story of a dream

Cinema Jenin follows an ambitious initiative to re-open a previously abandoned cinema in the West Bank city of Jenin. Founded in the 1960s, it was once the largest cinema in Palestine, today it stands as a hollow echo of its society. Re-building the cinema, Germans and Palestinians come together evoking often comedic but always political and cultural ramifacations. Cinema Jenin witnessed an intimate, nuanced and textured view into the city and its domestic affairs as well as the journey of a dedicated, loyal, often conflicted group of people who hope that the re-building of the cinema will be a bridge to peace, freedom and Palestinian self-empowerment.

The film CINEMA JENIN tells this story from the very first moment. It becomes a drawn-out process, as the German director at the center of his own story encounters complex cultural relationships and sentiments. Initially, he doesn’t understand many Palestinian customs and he gets taken to task for it on several occasions. What’s more, the involvement of foreign parties is a delicate issue for many Palestinians – especially when it comes to Israel. Although the new cinema is supposed to welcome everyone, the enterprise prompts reactions that reveal the painful nature of the relationship between Palestine and Israel. The word “peace” becomes extremely charged, and the initiators Ismael, Fakhri and Marcus have to take care that the social project doesn’t turn into a political one. These and other problems need to be solved with the help of a few big names, lots of volunteers, and even more cigarettes.

“I am deeply committed to Cinema Jenin.”

Roger Waters, founder of Pink Floyd

“CINEMA JENIN is a story about courage in hopelessness. But it’s much more about the power of hope and a common goal.”

Rating “EXCEPTIONALLY VALUABLE” and “DOCUMENTARY FILM OF MAY 2012” by German Film and Media Rating (FBW)

“As a documentary filmmaker I go to a foreign land, and the people tell their stories and open their hearts. In return, I give them back a film, but I don’t believe that a film alone has the power to change their circumstances in the long run. Rebuilding Cinema Jenin gives each of those who participate the possibility to write the next chapter in their lives.”

Marcus Vetter about the project Cinema Jenin

Director´s Statement

by Alex Bakri and Marcus Vetter

When you come to Jenin, you immediately notice the colors. Lush green fields and earth brown landscapes harmonize with the even more colorful colors on the market place of the city. In this market, red martyr-glorifying posters on the walls of the shops and their yellow entrances. Green cars, blue, purple, red, brown, even pink – everything flows into each other on the main streets of the city. A kaleidoscopic choreography, like I have never seen in any other city before. My first visit was to the city’s refugee camp, a far less colorful place a few years ago. The Israeli army cleaned it up, leaving almost nothing but rubble. The damage is still being repaired, but it will be repaired in monochrome type: a white-grey color marks those houses which were devastated at that time. I was here for the first time in 2007 as a translator for the documentary film “The Heart of Jenin”. The film told the story of 11-year-old Ahmed Khatib, who was killed by Israeli soldiers. His father Ismail decided the same day that his son’s organs were to be donated to Israeli children should be donated – a gesture of peace. Ahmed’s organs save five lives. While working on this film, director Marcus Vetter and I often discussed the relationship between reality and Cinema. More precisely, about the different truths of a documentary and a feature film. At that time the “job” of every filmmaker was to seek and uncover the truth, wherever it lies hidden. And I was of the opinion that this should be done without any intervention. This view should, however, be radically change.

A year later, Marcus and I met again, here in Jenin. This time we listened to Ismail’s story of a forgotten cinema that he dreamed of reopening one day. Like the rest of Jenin, Ismail longs for it, to resume his life and be able to life with his family in a normal environment. For us a compelling moment when we couldn’t help but offer our help to Ismael. His brave step towards peace had to be continued. And we thought, yes, he’s right, a cinema is just the thing for that! We filmed the project from the first moment. At the beginning we did not yet have a structured concept, what and how we would film it. We went with the camera on the trail of the characters, always on the lookout for a story to tell. It started with Marcus and Fakhri Hamad, a law graduate who never got the chance to practice law. He helped Ismael at the youth center. Marcus and Fakhri started out together to search for for possible sponsors for the renovation of the cinema. Neither of them had any experience and so they initially only managed a considerable number of business cards. These difficulties kept going for quite some time. The Palestinian and the German shared intimate moments, dark humor, expectations, joy, anger, frustration and exertion – everything that life has to offer.

The filming of these daily fragments of real life, made me realized later that I had already found what I was looking for. As the project progressed, more and more people came to help. The next turning point for me was the discovery of Hussein, a former projectionist of the old Cinema Jenin. When he first entered the room it was like in a movie. A broad, aging, clumsy man with a hoarse voice, growling and mumbling to himself, crosses the old projection room like Charlie Chaplin. For some reason, he’s wearing an old computer keyboard under the arm. Without many words, he walks single-mindedly by the camera and resumes his work which he has been had left it there decades earlier. In a few minutes he performed nothing else than magic. What more than 20 years has been only a public toilet for pigeons, was suddenly brightly lit up again. All persons present were speechless. Enraptured by Hussein’s person, from then on I focused on him by making his heroic struggle with the old projectors. Surprisingly, he always kept exactly to the frame of the picture, like a professional actor. Never a dull moment with Hussein. Almost everything what he did amazed me. Always bold, unexpected, touching and cinematic, Hussein kept everyone on their toes.

I needed just to pose, set up the picture and have a real to observe masters in action. After many hours of pictures with Marcus, Fakhri and Hussein, I came to the conclusion that I was not looking for I had to look for history. She’d be in front of my camera whether I wanted to or not. In every situation there is history. You just have to find it. The project Cinema Jenin could become one of many films about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a film about the occupation-related poverty in a so-called dangerous place. But that is not what we want. This film is about various unusual people, who regardless of their nationalities come together to create the only cinema in a city (and the entire region). More than literature, theatre, or any other form of art the cinema deals with the most banal and trivial moments of people. Those things that everyone can do with everyone everywhere has in common. A documentary film that reports from conflict areas easily runs the risk of slipping into clichés. But our film is intended treat his characters as individuals and not as representatives of a particular political statement. No labels, no slogans, just the incredible history of Cinema Jenin.

“This cinema project is like a legacy of my dead son Ahmed. With its history everything has begun and the cinema will be forever connected to it.”

Ismael Khateeb

Film press & Reviews

Videos

The project

The story continues

Cinema Jenin is supported by Cinema Jenin e.V., a non-profit organization based in Germany consisting of filmmakers, cultural advocates and investors dedicated to globally promote cinema culture in such a way that sustainable development and cultural understanding along with free and fair education are encouraged. When we started the project “Cinema Jenin” in March 2008, we were driven by the belief that the story of the film “Heart of Jenin” shouldn’t finish with the film. We were filmmakers that wanted to bring a cinema back to life in a place that everyone had ceased to believe in.

When we started the project cinema jenin in March 2008, we were driven by the belief that the story of the film “Heart of Jenin” shouldn’t finish with the film. We were filmmakers that wanted to bring a cinema back to life in a place that everyone had ceased to believe in. Since at cinema jenin all internationals worked for free throughout the three years, we managed to build one of the most state-of-the-art cinemas in the Middle East for a total budget of about 750,000 EUR for the years 2009 and 2010. Cinema Jenin is equipped with two digital projector, two 35mm projectors, one open air cinema for 1000 visitors, a sound system that is also suitable for concerts and theater performances, a cafeteria, a cistern, to be independent from the public water supply, a photovoltaic solar system that is able to power the whole cinema, and much more. For the purpose of sustainability, we fitted thousands of meters of cable of the high professional CAT5&7. Keeping within the above mentioned budget, we also carried out film workshops and transported two big containers with new and used equipment from Germany to Jenin. We refurbished a guest house for hundreds of volunteers, that got board and lodging provided for in turn for their help. For experts we paid the travel costs. Included in that budget was also a three-day festival that was held for the opening of the cinema in August 2010.

Read the whole story

From the very beginning, it was agreed not to contract one single firm for the implementation of the building work, but to use local craftsmen from the city of Jenin and the refugee camp. We wanted the local community to benefit from the project and thereby also help to build a sense of identification with the cinema. Once the funding started, we agreed for the project to be managed by both a German and a Palestinian entity. We founded a non-profit organization in Germany – Cinema Jenin e.V.- and a Palestinian NGO -Cinema Jenin Association. Fakhri Hamad, a lawyer from Jenin, became manager of Cinema Jenin Palestine. The German organization Cinema Jenin e. V. was founded in order to transfer the financial support and donations received from Germany to the Cinema Jenin Association in Jenin. Bills that were directly paid from the organization in Germany were filed according to book-keeping standards by a tax accountancy office that was working for free for the project. Bills that were from expenses accrued in Jenin and that were issued in Arabic were generally recorded and accounted for by the Cinema Jenin Association Palestine.

The opening of Cinema Jenin in August 2010 was a great success. Worldwide the media reported about this symbol of hope coming from Jenin. However the murder of Juliano Mer Khamis, the director of the Freedom Theater in Jenin, in April 2011 was a big blow to Cinema Jenin. For security reasons we had to withdraw all the volunteers. Faster than planed, we handed over the project management to a board of influential public figures in Jenin and appointed Dr. Lamei as interim project manager.

6In Juli 2011, the Ministry for Culture chose Cinema Jenin as the venue for two local film and folklore festivals. Both festivals were very well attended. Artists from all over the West Bank performed.

We rebuilt Cinema Jenin with our heart and soul. All the interns and volunteers worked for free, many covering their flights as well. Cinema Jenin and its accompanying projects are still in their early stages. In order for the Palestinian team to establish Cinema Jenin as an economically viable and self-supporting project, it still needs financial, conceptual, and personal support to continue their work. The tasks include further training of the Palestinian team in managing the cinema and organizing cultural events, ensuring a diverse film program, proceeding with film and theatre workshops, developing educational activities as well as professional training opportunities, and much more.

In order for Cinema Jenin to be becoming a real Palestinian project we agreed with the Ministry of Culture in Ramallah that CINEMA JENIN will register in 2012 as a Palestinian NGO with full Palestinian ownership. The release of the film CINEMA JENIN in 2012 will provide Cinema Jenin with a further opportunity to fundraise for the project.

We are very happy that cinema jenin proved as well as a wonderful stepping stone for the professional development for some of our volunteers. Mamoun Kanaan got a sholar ship from Medienboard Brandenburg to work in Germany for several distribution companies and theaters. Aljoscha Haupt and Anne Bolick are studying since October 2011 at the film academy in Ludwigsburg. Mareike Müller got accepted for a degree in Film at the prestigious Academy of Arts in Vienna, Michele Gentile is shooting his debut documentary on the International Criminal Court and Fakhri Hamad will finish his master in law at the University of Tübingen.

The documentary film AFTER THE SILENCE from Steffi Bürger, Manal Abdullah and Jule Ott was successfully released in Germany and won already two important awards – the HORIZONTE FILM AWARD at the Fünf Seen Festival in Germany and the RYSZARD KAPUSCINSKI AWARD 2011 at the Camera Obscura Filmfestival in Poland. We are as well proud to announce that AFTER THE SILENCE had its Gulf Premier at the prestigious Dubai International Film Festival in December. This is an incredible sign taking in consideration that Yael Armanet – the main protagonist of the film – is a Israeli woman.

“[The] cinema can help reviving the cultural life of the northern West Bank and counterbalancing the growing influence of political and religious radicalism and intolerance.”

Fareed Majari, former head of the Goethe-Institute in Palestine

Cinema Jenin

Association

Cinema Jenin closed and demolished

After the murder of Juliano Mer Khamis, the future of the cinema became uncertain. For security reasons, all the volunteers had to leave Jenin. Dr. Lamei, who was very close to Cinema Jenin’s heart, became the new project manager and ran the cinema for almost six years. Since the project was still seen by the resistance movement as a normalization project, people were afraid to visit the cinema. Its success was therefore limited, and funding became difficult. In 2016, the rental agreement for Cinema Jenin could not be extended, and the owners
decided to sell the cinema. It was then demolished and replaced by a shopping center. Unfortunately shortly also the guesthouse was destroyed.

In view of the tragic developments currently taking place in Israel/Palestine after October 7, we at Cinema Jenin e.V. have decided, in collaboration with Filmperspektive GMBH and Eikon Südwest, to re-release the three Jenin films THE HEART OF JENIN, CINEMA JNIN and AFTER SILENCE in a Palestine/Israel trilogy. These are all three award-winning films that show people – Israelis and Palestinians alike – who have tried to break the vicious circle of hatred and violence. Given the current situation, we think it is important to tell the background to the conflict that has been simmering for decades and to bring viewers closer to three different stories of people who have tried to break the vicious circle of violence and counter-violence in order to give the world and its leaders the courage to do the same.

Help us get these stories seen around the world. Donate to the non-profit organization Cinema Jenin e.V. and support the production of different language versions of these three films.

Donation account: Cinema Jenin e.V. | SWIFT: DE04 6407 0085 010 | BIC : DEUTDESS641| Keyword: Palestine-Israel-Trilogy

The Grand Opening in August 2010

On the 5th August 2010, after two years construction works, Cinema Jenin re-opened its doors for everyo-ne with a three-days festival. It was attended by numerous special guests from politics and arts, including performances from „Le Trio Joubran“ from Paris/Nazareth and Salam Abu Amneh & Band. Over 90 inter-national journalists were accredited to see when the Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad cut the red ribbon. First topic at the opening celebration was the screeningof „Heart of Jenin“. The program went on with fascinating Arab and international films and extraordinary concerts and a wide-ranging children’s program, rounding up the festival.

The Grand Opening had impressive media coverage all over the world. Amongst those were: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Berliner ZeitungTagesspiegel, Berliner Zeitung, Frankfurter Rundschau, Stuttgarter Zeitung, TAZ, Die Welt-Online, ZEIT Online, The Jewish Chronicle, The Guardian (UK), The Washington Post (USA), Daily Star (Lebanon), The Age (Australia), El País, The Guardian, Le Monde, BBC, CNN, AFP, dpa AP, Reuters, France24, Al-Jazeera English, CNN.com (USA), Need-to-Know on PBS (USA), heute, tagesschau

Hard Facts about Cinema Jenin

Property: 2 000 m²
Cinema: 335 seats / 340 m²
Screen: 5.80 x 10.30 m
Stage: 12 x 5,5 m
Open-Air Cinema & Cafeteria: 700 seats
Open-Air Stage: 4 x 8 m
Open-Air-Screen: 5 x 12 m
Guesthouse: 44 beds/ 8 bathrooms & showers/ wireless internet access/one big kitchen & dining room
LED screen: 3,08 x 3,84 m
Solar System: 208 m²/6143kw-h/year
Mediathek: 70 m²/ over 500 books & films
Teaching room for German language: 20 m²

the story continues

While Mracus Vetter´s film “The Heart of Jenin” is celebrated internationally and most recently was awarded the German Film Price, Jenin is still lacking a place where its very own story could be told. The only cinema in town was closed more than twenty years ago. Parallel, the children from the cultural center that Ishmael opened after his son’s death wanted to produce their first short films, only to realize that they had no place to show it in. The decision to reopen the cinema emerged and Project Cinema Jenin was born. Marcus Vetter, Fakhri Hamad and Ismael Khatib, together with a group of enthusiastic locals and foreigners, were working tirelessly to bring the old cinema back to life.

Renovating the building

The cinema resided in a large building surrounded by a vast garden. It had 200 seats on the first floor and another 200 on a balcony in which there were also private booths. However, having been closed for so long, it had been used as a dump and was in a deplorable condition. The wooden chairs were in a state of advanced decay, the old 35mm projectors were out of service and the screen had been torn up. The building itself and all pieces of equipment were in need of repair or replacement.

Keeping its original design, local professionals supported by a team of international volunteers started clearing out the building, restoring the chairs, rebuilding the stage, renewing the toilets, repairing the roof, and fixing the air conditioning and the electrical system in summer 2009. Also, the garden surrounding the cinema was transformed into an outdoor cinema and a cafeteria and will provide the only public outdoor space in Jenin. The cinema projection, the light and the sound systems were installed under the supervision of two German production companies, guaranteeing high quality digital cinematic standards.

REActivating the Cinema

The cinema opened its doors to the public in August 2010 in a glamorous event. The local team currently involved in the renovation process acts as the core management team. Together with a group of young and old people from Jenin, parts of whom are already receiving technical training, they will be running the cinema. Film and theatre workshops in cooperation with local and international partners will get more people involved in the cinema. At the same time, the stages of Cinema Jenin will serve as the venues to present all cultural goods created this way, including (short) films, theatre plays, music concerts, etc. as well as for private feats such as weddings.

Our goal

The overall goal of Cinema Jenin is to break the situation of isolation and lack of perspective in Jenin through creating sustainable change and improved living conditions. The project will use the means of cinema to do so. After the reconstruction of the old movie theater is complete, Jenin will once more have a cultural heart. Since it is the goal to let all people in Jenin benefit from the project, the official ticket price will be 5 Shekel (1 Euro).

Sustainable strategy

Economic sustainability will be reached through income generating activities in several fields. After the opening, there will be revenues from commercials shown in the film screenings and on a huge LED screen (3×4 m) on the cinema’s roof. Not only this advertising space but also its content will be produced and sold by Cinema Jenin. The necessary technical equipment is already being shipped to Jenin and staff trainings by volunteering German experts are being held in order to produce quality results. Other income sources include the Cinema Jenin Guest House which is already operational and an outdoor cafeteria.

The intertwined aspects of personnel and social sustainability are even more important to unfold the project’s full potential. Though having the advantage of rebuilding an old structure rather than implementing something totally alien, Cinema Jenin still needs to be accepted and in the end run by the people of Jenin. In order to make sure that the project is shaped by the needs of the local population Cinema Jenin is consequentially conceived and carried out as a German-Palestinian joint venture. But for the cinema to be truly sustainable on a social level, it needs to reach out to the entire population. This is why the educational activities such as special screenings for schools, film workshops and technical trainings will increase the number of people benefitting from the project.

The goal to break Jenin’s isolation comprises a multitude of objectives  in three core areas:

1.Promoting Culture and Social Integration:  

Re-establishing a culture of cinema-going
Integrating Jenin city and the refugee camp
Promoting culture in all its forms and providing a venue for artists
Raising awareness for women’s and children’s rights

2. Fostering Peace and Intercultural Dialogue:

Opening a window to the outside world in times of occupation and siege
Providing the means for cultural self expression towards the world
Reintegrating Jenin into a regional and international cultural exchange
Fostering principles of dialogue, peaceful conflict resolution, co-existence and acceptance of others

3. Strengthening Education and Economy:  

Providing technical education and educational screenings for school classes
Creating sustainable jobs for the people of Jenin
Increasing the attractiveness of Jenin as a place to visit and do business
Setting the seed for a local film industry

Built in the early 60‘s, Cinema Jenin (West Bank, Palestine) was considered to be one of the largest and most impressive cinemas in Palestine. Hundreds of people attended it daily to watch films from the Arab world. Later, it started presenting action films and American B movies until it was closed as a movie theatre with the outbreak of the first Intifada in 1987. Now, Fakhri Hammad, a resident of Jenin, Marcus Vetter, a renowned German documentary filmmaker and a group of enthusiastic locals and foreigners were bringing the old cinema back to life! The story behind this ambitious plan began, when in 2005 Ismail Khateeb, a resident of the Jenin refugee camp, decided to donate the organs of his 11 year old son Ahmed, who was shot dead by the Israeli army. Despite his grief, Ismail decided that Israeli children should receive these organs, thus saving their lives. A year later, still deeply affected by his son’s death, he opened a culture centre for the children of the camp as an alternative for their street life. Thanks to foreign donations the centre started providing many activities among which film courses were given. The story of Ishmael’s gesture of greatness and peace captured the world’s media attention and is told in Marcus Vetter’s ward winning documentary “The Heart of Jenin”. But while the movie was celebrated internationally, Jenin was lacking a place where its very own story could be told. Parallel, the children from Ismails culture centre want to produce their first short film, only to realize that they had no place to show it in. The idea to rebuild the cinema was born! This resurrection of Cinema Jenin has enormous dramatic potential. Its story is being told in the form of the documentary film CINEMA JENIN – The STORY of a DREAM

Cinema Jenin is located in city centre of Jenin, next to the old church, the market and the main transportation routes. The Jenin governorate has roughly 230,000 inhabitants. Having been the site of fierce fighting in the Second Intifada, the city suffers from isolation on all levels – economic, social and cultural – ever since. Once a centre of commerce its unemployment has risen to nearly 80%. Options for leisure time and cultural activities are severely limited. And while the nearest cinema in Nablus city is only 40 km away, movement restrictions due to the occupation render it a place practically out of reach for many of Jenin’s inhabitants, leading to a situation where most citizens under the age of 20 have never seen a movie on a cinema screen. Thus, the only window to the world is television and, for those who have access to a computer, the internet. In this environment the cinema reborn will serve as a beacon of hope fostering the social and cultural reintegration and economic rehabilitation of Jenin.

“We will not only create jobs through the renovation of the cinema in Jenin but will first of all give young people a space for their talents and open a window to the world for them.”

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, former German Foreign Minister

Our Guesthouse

Cinema Jenin Guesthouse is closed.

Unfortunately the guest house was closed and has been demolished in 2017.

In our beautyful guesthouse we have welcoming everybody who wanted to visit the Westbank. We also invited volunteers and supporters from around the world to stay and work with us on the project. The guesthouse was situated next door to the Cinema and offered five spacious eight-bed rooms and two double rooms.

Prices have been calculated to keep the guesthouse running. We have been a non-profit organization, surplus takings have gone directly to the Cinema Jenin association in order to support our project.

VOLUNTEER AND TRAVEL

Be part of an enthusiastic team, working to bring back a cinema to the city of Jenin! As a volunteer, you stayed at our beautifully renovated guesthouse for a reduced price. In addition, the cost for Arabic language courses at our partner institute in Jenin had been reduced.

Our Location

Cinema Jenin and our guesthouse have been located in the heart of the city of Jenin, next to the old church, the market and the main bus station. Unfortunately the guest house was closed and demolished in 2017.

General information

Israel and Palestine country code: + 972
Currency: Shekel (approx. 5 Shekel = 1 Euro)
Visa: For Europeans a three month tourist visa is automatically issued upon arrival in Israel/Palestine.
Citizens of other countries should check with their local embassy. A Passport will suffice.

Shabbat in Israel: Starts Friday at sunset and lasts until Saturday’s sunset. During these hours there is no public transport. Taxis are, however, available.

Jum’a in Palestine: Shops close and public transport stops around 4:00 p.m. on Fridays. Taxis are, however, available.

What could you expect from Jenin?

A home away from home: Cinema Jenin Guesthouse was a beautifully renovated old Palestinian Villa with comfortable rooms, friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere
We offered clean and bright dormitories with high ceilings and lots of space
Bathrooms with warm water showers
Washing machine
Frequent film screenings
W-lan access
Get in touch with your room mates while preparing a delicious dinner together in our spacious community kitchen
Enjoy colourful sunsets with a sweet cup of shay bi’lna’na (pepperminttea) on our rooftop terrace
Discover the city´s surroundings, hike the olive groves, relax in Jenin´s Turkish Hammam or attend one of the West Bank´s multifold cultural events
Take a tour around Jenin to discover the most diverse flora and fauna of the entire West Bank
Visit the Freedom Theatre in Jenin’s refugee camp and enjoy one of their famous shows
Meet nice people and have fun!

welcome to Jenin

The city is located in the West Bank between Nazareth and Nablus on a mountainous range, boasting orchards of olive trees. Grown from the ancient town of Ein-Ganam, Jenin has seen many rulers come and go: Byzantines, Crusaders, Beduin Princes, the combined troops of Turkey and Germany, who set up camps here during WWI, British Mandatory Forces and , at present, Israeli occupation. Jenin has been known worldwide as a centre of fierce fighting during the Second Intifada. The refugee camp, a neighbourhood where about a quarter of Jenin’s population is living, was the site of the “Battle of Jenin” in 2002. Until today, numerous posters of martyrs are lining the streets to commemorate these events.
Despite all these hardships, the majority of the inhabitants are committed to a non-violent way of resistance. Arriving in Jenin, you will enjoy its very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. You will hear the inhabitants talking about an “Intellectual Intifada” instead of armed resistance. As an important agricultural center and university town, Jenin is a lively place, with a bustling fruit market and busy alleyways, inhabited by extremely welcoming, friendly, smiling people, curious to know more about their guests and the foreign cultures. There is a phrase you will constantly hear while discovering the city: “Welcome to Jenin!”

images

“We are excited about reviving the cinema. We have many programs and ideas and we think that about 300-400 people will come per day. The cinema will not be only for screening films, but will also become a stage for the whole community that can host celebrations, conferences and special activities of different associations and NGOs.”

Ismael Khateeb 2008

“It is very clear that this [Jenin] is the place where dialogue and cultural exchange has to start if the terror shall ever end in the Middle East!”

Jaka Bizilj, founder of the CINEMA FOR PEACE FOUNDATION

Festivals & Awards

Festivals

2011	International Filmfestival Amsterdam (IDFA)
2011	Dubai International Filmfestival
2012	Festival Du Film Geneve
2012	Movies that Matter
2012	Planet Doc Filmfestival
2012	Dubai International Filmfestival
2012	Telluride Film Festival
2012	Flahertiana October Perm
2012	Inconvenient Films Vilnius
2012	Intern. Human Rights Film Festival Albania
2012	PriMed – IFF of Mediterranean DocFilm
2012	Bergen International Filmfestival

Awards

2009	German Cinema Award for Peace
2012	Bernhard Wicki Film Prize – The Bridge
2012	German Camera Award – Editing
2013	Nominated for German Television Award

BENEFIZ TOUR 2015

Three films tell stories of freedom and peace

The three films “Heart of Jenin”, “After the Silence” and “Cinema Jenin” wonderfully tell the complex history of Palestine using the example of the city of Jenin. There are three films of hope, but also of despair. But above all, these stories show that it is worth dreaming.

From October 29th, Dr. Lamei Assir (cinema director), Rawand Arqawi (artistic director) and Mohammad additionqi (game director) present the film trilogy in Germany for 3-4 weeks and are then available for questions and discussions.

28.10.2015	KINO WALDHORN	ROTTENBURG
29.10.2015	LANDESTHEATER LTT	TÜBINGEN
30.10.2015	DEUTSCHES THEATER	BERLIN
31.10.2015	THALIA KINO BABELSBERG	POTSDAM
01.11.2015	CAFE PALESTINE	ZÜRICH
02.11.2015	SAFEBÜHNE	BASEL
02.11.2015	KINEMATHEK BERN	BERN
03.11.2015	KINO IM U	DORTMUND
04.11.2015	NATIONAL THEATER	WEIMAR
06.11.2015	STADTTHEATER	KONSTANZ
08.11.2015	SCHAUSPIELHAUS	GRAZ
08.11.2015	FRAPPANT E.V.	HAMBURG
09.11.2015	VOLKSTHEATER	WIEN
10.11.2015	FRANZ K	REUTLINGEN
11.11.2015	UNIVERSUM FILMTHEATER	BRAUNSCHWEIG
12.11.2015	CAPITOLKINO	WITZENHAUSEN
16.11.2015	THEATER AM KIRCHPLATZ	LIECHTENSTEIN
18.11.2015	LITERATURZENTRUM	GREIFSWALD
18.11.2015	KUBA KULTURBAHNHOF	JÜLICH
19.11.2015	FILMSTUDIO GLÜCKAUF	ESSEN

Credits

A Production of BOOMTOWN MEDIAm FILMPERSPEKTIVE and CINEPHIL

Year of production	2011
Lenght	96 Minuten
Format	HD/35 mm
A production of	BOOMTOWN MEDIA (Berlin) FILMPERSPEKTIVE (Tübingen) and CINEPHIL
In Co-production with	SÜDWESTRUNDFUNK BAYERISCHER RUNDFUNK ARTE SENATOR FILM and PROJECT CINEMA JENIN in association with: VPRO
Worldsales	Cinephil
German Distributor	Senator Film Verleih
Arabic Distributor	Bukera Pictures

Written and Directed by	Marcus Vetter
Director of Photography	Alex Bakri
Montage	Saskia Metten
Sound and Sound Mix	Aljoscha Haupt
Line Producer	Marc Wächter
Producers	Uwe Dierks Thomas Grube Philippa Kowarski Marcus Vetter
Sound Design	Alex Claude
Music	Avi Baleli Sven Kaiser
Commissioning editors	Martina Zöllner, SWR Gudrun Hanke El Ghomri, SWR Thomas Sessner, BR Ulle Schröder, ARTE Barbara Denz, NDR

Team & Supporters

Sponsors, Partners, Volunteers & Private Donators

Thanks for all your support without that the project CINEMA JENIN would have never been possible! We would like to express our deep appreciation to the following organizations and donors who have been so gracious in their support and willingness to help.

International & local team

Achim Johne (Technical Supervisor)
Alexandra Senfft (Author)
Aljoscha Haupt (Sound)
Arne Wittig (Cutter)
Annette Burchard (Workshops)
Aysun Hempel (LED-Screen)
Clemens Alexis (Programming)
Christine Fricke (Fundraising)
Dagmar Quentin (PR & Fundraising)
Daniel Brumund (Press)
Daniel Dahm (Cinema Jenin AG)
Dirk Zimmermann (Lawyer)
Dr. Albert Kitzler (Legal Advisor)
Felix Gebauer (Festival Manager)
Franz Macher (Projectionist)
Girina Holland (EU-Fundraising)
Gus Hagelberg (Programming & Hosting)
Hicham Bourdane (Fundraising – Italy)
Ivo Körner (Fundraising – Germany)
Jamila Al-Yousef (Fundraising – England)
Jan Boeddeling (Assistant Manager)
Jan Knollmann (Programming)
Johannes Hucke (Architect)

Jule Ott (Junior Director)
Julia Ley (Fundraising – England)
Julia Nissen (Film Programming)
Julia Radermacher (Translation)
Julia Samojlo (Fundraising – Poland)
Katja Schmitz-Dräger (Festival Planning & PR)
Liva Haensel (Press)
Lukas Zimmer (Design & Programming)
Mara Lübbert (Architect)
Marc Naroska (Design)
Marcus Kaliner (Lawyer)
Mareike Müller (Camera)
Martin Haynes (Translation)
Mamoun Kanan (Assistant Project Manager)
Michael Spiegel (program management)
Moritz Drotleff (Serverhosting & Programming)
Nadja Dumouchel (Distribution)
Philip Husemann (Fundraising & PR)
Saskia Metten (Cutter)
Stephan Binggeser (Technical Supervisor)
Stephanie Bürger (Junior Director)
Ulf Meyer (Design & Communication)
Vivi Bentin (Translation)
Wendelin Marmon (EU-Fundraising)

Abd Alraheem Zerieni (Construction)
Abu Kemal (Driver)
Ahmad abu Zahi (Logistic Work)
Ahmad Jalbouni (Printing)
Ahmad Shalabi (Aluminum Work)
Amin Abdulhadi (Sound)
Feras Mahajneh (Junior Accountant)
Firas Ammar (Engineer)
Husain Darbi (Maintenance of Projectors)
Jamal Wardani (Driver)
Jamal Dolani (Lawyer)
Jehad Ghazal (Logistic Work)
Randa Hamad (Guesthouse Management)
Mahdi Al Ali (Carpenter)
Mahmoud Weld Ali (Air Condition)
Ghassan Jalbouni / Al Marah Co. (Metal Work)
Maysa Mghayer (Facility Managment Guesthouse)
Mhanna Sinan (Senior Accountant)
Mohammed Silawi (Main Contractor)
Samer Dawod (Decoration)
Shadi Jabarin (Metal Work)
Sobhi Shamloli (Logistic Work)
Tariq Switat (LED Screen)
Tayseer Abu Tame (Electrician)

Volunteers

Alina Gilles
Angela Koch
Anne Bolick
Anja Stöcker
Anke Politz
Annette Hübsch
Ara Renate Mayas
Astrid Hoch
Bernie Stampfer
Brigitte Mauler
Caren Niemann

Daniel Strehlau
Daniela Rathe
David Gentille
Elisa Ellenberger
Hartmut Hamann
Helen Burchard
Inge Günther
Jana Holz
Jannis Krutzenbichler
Jonna Herman
Josefa Velten

Julia Jaki
Julia Neufeind
Julia Preu
Julia Samojlo
Klaus Scheuermann
Lena Pannecke
Lutz Schmidt
Manni Gläser
Matthäus von Schlippe
Michael Bürgi
Nadja Harraschain

Niklas Prenzel
Niko von Glasow
Paul Trenkler
Sitha Reis
Sonia Herrero
Svenja Kleinschmidt
Tabea Venrath
Thomas Koch
Thomas Vogel
Tom Burchard
Vera Feifel
William Evans

chair sponsorships

Alexis Schröder
Ampelmann GmbH
Angela Romero
Antonia Rathmann
Ben Swets
Bernd Binggeser
Buchhandlung Konold
Cinema Hunsrück / Hilde Schaal
Clemens Schröder
Eva Gräff
Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Zornheim and

Ortsgemeinde Zornheim
Freundeskreis Amnesty International Nürtingen
Grigorius Pilidis
Gus Hagelberg
Jack Slater
Jaka Bizjil
Johanna Bosch Brasacchio
Jörg Widmer
Jürgen Fuchs
Julia Schäfauer
Katia Binet

Katrin Scherbart
Kerstin Mall
Kristina Rummelsburg
Laurie Hane
Lukas Gold
Man Ferrostaal AG
Manuela Kempf
Marget Ketterle
Martin Kobler
Matthias Platzeck
Michael Meyer
Michael Spiegel

Neugass Kino AG / Kino Bourbaki
Nina Ospelt
Polypharma Technologies & Sciences GmbH
Programm Kino Aalen
Pro-Winzkino Simmern
Reinhild Dettmer-Finke
Ron Martin
Star Entertainment
Tanja Hönicke
Universitätsstadt Tübingen
Vera Filmfestival

private donators

Abraham Wallenstein
Albert Schmedding
Alexandra Neumann
Alfred Stenten
Aloisia Kilwink
Anastasija
Angelika Grimm
Anita Jesse
Anna Fleischer
Anne Koch
Annemarie Zöller
Annette Hübsch
Annette Hübsch
Annette Meier
Ayzer Guenes
Barbara Baum
Barbara Kattner
Bernhard Gibbins
Birgit Geissler
Birgitt Mauler
Birka Camerer
Brigitt Hofmann-Milderbrath
Britta Wagner
Bruno Löhlein
Carola Al-Yousef
Carola Lange
Catherine Arsaut
Cejchan Vendulka
Ch. Maurischat
Chridtina Semmler
Christa Hähle
Christian Turrey
Christina Zimmer
Claudia Anton
Conny Wiederhold
D. Detiege
Dagmar Voltersen
Dagmar Voltersen
Daniela Clausecker
Daniela Craciunescu
Dankward Hüfmeier
Dieter Blümner
Dieter Kittelberg
Dieter Kosica
Dieter Volpert
Doris Papak-Gartner
Dorothea Butz-Klimek
Dorothee Märkle-Sambeth
Dr. Alice Stelz
Dr. Burchard und Sigrid Carlsen
Dr. Carl-Theodor Meinecke
Dr. Cäsar Friedrich
Dr. Friedrich Kosche
Dr. Helmut Steinhilber
Dr. Helmut Steinhilber
Dr. Joachim Mohr
Dr. Jochen Fröhlich
Dr. Josef Maybaum
Dr. Ludwig Falkenstein
Dr. Marion Grob
Dr. Matthias Eigenbrodt
Dr. Silvia Berhardt
Dr. Ulrich Clauß
Dressler
E. Natter-Erb
Elisabeth Meinhard
Elke Blümner
Elke Kulenkampf
Ellen Zbitek-Jonas
Emma Martina Possl
Enrico Enzmann
Erhard Lipkow
Erika Behrusi
Erika Mallast
Ernst Knapp
Eva Schopper
Familie Peters
Familie Wiesendt
Felix Rademacher
Florian Fitschen
Frank Steinle
Frank Wittkamp
Friedericke Riese
Friederike Riese
Friedrich Hilpert
Friedrich Wiest
Friedrich Wilhelm

Gabriele Homburg
Gabriele Jäger
Genovefa Cöster
Gerd Wohlfeil
Gerhard und Beate Fischer
Gerhard und Mechthild Philipp
Gerlinde Feichtinger
Gerlinde Vetter
Giesela Horchheimer
Gisela Muckenhaupt
Hanna Gofferje
Hannelore Schrader
Hans Lattour
Hans-Dieter Zeller
Hans-Werner Wedemeyer
Hartmut Monheim
Heidemarie Arndt
Heidi Friedl
Heidi Pflaeging
Heidrun Haendle
Heiner Scheerer
Heinz Schümmer
Hellmilch
Hellmut und Ursula Kuby
Helmut Hackstein
Helmut Hürkamp
Helmut Pache-Moldmann
Hermann Josef Hucke
Hermann Karpf
Herr von Wedemeyer
Herta Maria David-Klein
Hildgegard Masson
Hilke Rebenstorf
Holger Perka
Horst Schönig
Igor Kremberg
Inge Reichardt
Ingeborg Mohr-Khalil
Ingeborg Oster
Ingo Wietersheim
Irmgard Bauer
Isabelle Allgeier
J. Klaaßen
Janis Kluge
Jewish Filmfestival Warschau
Joachim Lassmann
Joachim Robert Gräfe
Josef Borg
Joseph Despineux
Jürgen Fuchs
Jürgen und Regina Stoll
Karl Block
Kino im Waldhorn
Kino Studio 17
Klaus Mangelod
Klaus Rürup
Klaus Scheuermann
Knut Elstermann
Kollekte Trauung Kuhlmann
Konrad Hummel
Kornelia Kaisenberg
Kurt und
Lars Kuntzag
Lebensraum GmbH
Leonie Borg
Liselotte Heizmann
Luise Schümmer
Lutz Mauk
M. Reich
Magda Hucke
Magdalena Seiser
Manfred und Helga Kriessler
Mani Glaeser
Margarete Schwaderer
Maria Deus
Maria Hürkamp
Marion Mees
Marion Schuon
Marlene Modos
Martha Monheim
Martin Dippon
Martin Kobler
Martin Kramer
Martin Vogelgesang
Martin Zwaan
Martina Bosch-Gieseler
Martina Forschner

Martina Hupe
Martina Warning
Matthias Biesel
Matti Spiecker
Mattias Reithmeyer
Mechthild Litterscheid
Michael Weigl
Miriam Hasenoeder
Miriam Heck
Mohseni Pour Samii
Monika Kretschmann
Nadine Ullmann
Nicola Undritz Cope
Nina Zopperitsch
Normann Hepp
P. Tilse
Palladio Stiftung
Paul Windgasse
Peter Fischmann
Peter Koch
Peter Lonitz
Peter Reinhardt
Petra Huber
Prof Dr. Speidel
R. Van der Zeesonoystraat
Rainer Haendle
Reinhard Jonas
Reinhardt Winter
Reinhardt Wolf
Reinhild Schäffer
Reinhild Schneider
Renate Gebauer
Renate Maneval
Renate Meinecke
Roger Waters
Rolf Rehor
Rolf Schneidereit
Rotary Club Baden-Baden
S. Badral
Sabine Friedrich
Sabrina Fritz
Sascha Hucke
Sebastian Pricks
Sibylle Seidel-Gieth
Sigrid Kara
Simon Geerkens
Simone Hiller
Sonja Rehor
Stadt Jugendring Urach
Susanne Albrecht
Susanne Haas
Susanne Heller
Susanne Schunk
Susanne Stock
Sylvia Bopp
Thomas Kniffler
Torsten Drux
U. Ohrfandl
Ulf Wiederhold
Ulrich Fritz
Ulrike Ludwigs
Ursula Krauß
Urula Geise
Uta Baur
Ute Epplen
Verena von Keitz
Veronika Kuhlmeyer
Viktor Papak-Gartner
Walter Holzapfel
Werner Kuehnel
Winfried Müller
Wolf Reinhardt
Wolfgang Altenpohl
Wolfgang Eckert
Wolfgang und Margareta Schulz
Wolfgang und Rita Zipfel

Via Betterplace.org

A. Hoffmann
A. Körber
A. Mentzel
A. Midlasch
A. Rametsteiner
A. Wohlfahrt
A. P.

Aishah El M.
Amanda E.
B. Koch
B. Sieber
B. Volk
B. Winderdorfer
Beate W.
C. Schraivogel
C. Amari
C. Drescher
C. Laudon
C. Schraivogel
Christian Irmler
D. KANTOR
D. Scott
D. Thomaser
D. Thomaser
D. Wehlmann
D. Stoll
E. Hüther
E. Rossi
E. Hau
E. Ortwein
F. Benke
F. Knuechel
F. von Sassen
H. Christoph
H. Cramer
H. Klenke
H. Knott
I. Schneider-Thorn
J. Dentler
J.Jaki
Joana Breidenbach
Joerg R.
Joerg Reinbold
K. Lack
K. Nagel
K. Binet
K. Chan
K. Raghuna
K. Strittmatter
Kerstin D.
L. Cramer
M. Bockhorni
M. Jopp-Hoever
M. Näder
M. Steubing
M. Georgi
M. Kling
M. Kraus
M. Kron
M. Kunz
M. Mogendorf
Matthias E.
N. Lange
N. Niebling
O. Wetzig
O. Hagel
P. Rohrbach
R. Krauss
R. Marquardt
R. Müller-Heinrich
R. Rohl
Radialsystem GmbH
Renate M.
Renée F.
S. Büchting
S. Fenner
S. Torfs
S. Meimberg-Putzhammer
S. Ritter
S. von Uslar
S. Wolff
Stefan Breidenbach
Steffen S.
Sven G.
T. Aukes
T. Bartholomäus
Tim H.
U. Kimmig
U. Meyer
V. Giordano
V. Fetscher
Viola. F.
W. Koltermann
Y. Yousef-Laudon

The end

CINEMA JENIN IS CLOSING ITS DOORS FOREVER

Dear friends and supporters of Cinema Jenin,

Several news articles in the last few weeks have already reported on the end of Cinema Jenin. Now, after several weeks of negotiations, we sadly have to officially confirm that Cinema Jenin is closing its doors forever. Recently, the original owners of Cinema Jenin decided to sell the cinema to an investor planning to tear down the cinema and replace it with a new shopping mall. Cinema Jenin developed serious financial problems in 2014. After supplying extremely generous financial support for 5 years, the Protestant church in Frankfurt had to sponsor a different project. To raise funds for Cinema Jenin, we then organized a benefit tour with the film CINEMA JENIN through Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein. Unfortunately, the outcome was very limited. At the same time, our 8-year contract expired, and the owners announced a substantial rent increase, much more than Cinema Jenin could afford. As a result, the owners decided to sell.

Dr. Lamei, who had been in charge since the reopening of Cinema Jenin in 2010, did everything possible to prevent this from happening. He contacted the ministry of culture, he spoke with the Palestinian Authority, and he met with the governor of Jenin, but all was in vain. When I received the news from Dr. Lamei that the cinema owners were planning to sell Cinema Jenin, I immediately notified the German Foreign Ministry and asked for their assistance in this difficult situation. They conferred with the Palestinian Ambassador to Germany and also approached the German Representative Office in Ramallah about proposing to the Palestinian Authority that they buy the cinema. In the end, no one stepped in to help save the cinema. Seeing the bulldozers destroying the hard work which hundreds of volunteers and friends gave to Jenin in order to rebuild and refurbish this abandoned ruin was a very sad and painful moment. A number of dreams were destroyed, including the dream inspiring Dr. Lamei, whose father built and once ran the cinema. But the project Cinema Jenin was not for nothing. Many friendships and relationships developed through this project. All of these friendships between people, who otherwise never would have met, will last.

Thank you to all of our friends and everyone who helped to create this unique cultural space. Thank you to all of the people, institutions, and companies, who supported the cinema for years. Thank you to everyone who believed in this dream – even though it only lasted so briefly….

The guesthouse will continue to exist. Much of the cinema equipment will go to the Freedom Theatre to create a smaller cinema venue there. That way at least a part of Cinema Jenin will survive and will be under the management of the Freedom Theatre, an ongoing and vivid cultural venue in Jenin.

From the creators of RHYTHM IS IT! and TRIP TO ASIA

From the creators of RHYTHM IS IT! and TRIP TO ASIA

VOD & Trailer

Dedicated to Juliano Mer-Khamis

Trilogy

Three films tell stories of freedom and peace

Cinema Jenin

The story of a dream

Director´s Statement

by Alex Bakri and Marcus Vetter

Film press & Reviews

Review: Cinema Jenin – A story of a dream

Cinema Jenin at TCFF 2012

‘Cinema Jenin,’ a West Bank Tragedy

Cinema Jenin brings movies and revival to a scarred West Bank city

West Bank culture boost as Cinema Jenin rolls out red carpet

Between Hope and Reality

German filmmaker renovates West Bank cinema

Spezial Bernhard Wicki Prize for Cinema Jenin

A creative space beyond the grind of occupation

Foreign Office supports opening of Cinema Jenin

Renovated cinema to bring new life to Jenin

West Bank Movie Theatre comes back to life

A West Bank Ruin, Reborn as a Peace Beacon

Videos

The project

The story continues

Cinema Jenin

Association

Cinema Jenin closed and demolished

The Grand Opening in August 2010

Hard Facts about Cinema Jenin

the story continues

Renovating the building

REActivating the Cinema

Our goal

Sustainable strategy

The goal to break Jenin’s isolation comprises a multitude of objectives in three core areas:

Our Guesthouse

Cinema Jenin Guesthouse is closed.

Our Location

General information

What could you expect from Jenin?

welcome to Jenin

images

Festivals & Awards

Festivals

Awards

BENEFIZ TOUR 2015

Three films tell stories of freedom and peace

Credits

A Production of BOOMTOWN MEDIAm FILMPERSPEKTIVE and CINEPHIL

Team & Supporters

Sponsors, Partners, Volunteers & Private Donators

International & local team

Volunteers

Sponsors

chair sponsorships

private donators

The end

CINEMA JENIN IS CLOSING ITS DOORS FOREVER

Filmmaker

Production Company

© Filmperspektive 2024

The goal to break Jenin’s isolation comprises a multitude of objectives  in three core areas: